Isn't this holding...?

Question

I play on the offensive line and we do drills where they tell us to grab the bottom part of their shells (or shoulder pads) to advance him back. Isn't that holding?

Answer 1

Yeah . . . but it's against the law to drive 1 mph over the limit, too. If you  get your thumbs in and under the shoulder pads or shell if they're wearing one and drive him back, nobody's gonna call that. You've just got to be aware that your arms don't leave the frame of your body. Whether you are grasping his jersey or not, that will be MUCH easier to spot as holding.

Answer 2

It's hard for the ref to see holding when the line moves forward or back and easy to see if it's side to side.  There are some general guidelines on calls.  One is if the holding is away from the play, they probably won't call it.  If they feel it's not affecting the play they may not call it.

Here is a ref's view of a lock up you described.  You can see the white glove holding the red uniformed guy's shoulder pad, but you can't tell if he is really holding or just pushing.  You also can't see if the red uniformed guy is pulling the white uniformed guy out of the way to get to the play.  Obviously the ref didn't call this one because the photographer has a question mark next to "holding."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tclement/24...

Now if either one of them blatently was making the other guy's uniform one size larger as he was holding a bunch of jersey, then there would have been a call.

http://www.smugmug.com/keyword/all/ruthe...

Answer 3

my dad played 14 years of football spending most of his time on the line. its not holding unless the men in black and white say so. no its not holding i was never called for it. p.s there shoulder pads not shells

Answer 4

Anything on the front of the player is legal. You cannot grab anything from the back or anything to far on the side.  

Answer 5

So long as you're pushing your opponent backward and your hands are on the inside, most refs won't call holding because he isn't doing anything that your hold is preventing.  Now, if he tries to turn out of it and the ref sees a whole handful of jersey stretched out that will probably attract a flag.  If your hands are on the top or sides of the pads that will probably attract a flag.

Holding is rarely called unless it affects the play.  If you hold at right tackle and the play is a sweep to the left, you're not getting flagged.  If the run is up the B gap on your side, expect a flag.